Summary

  • We've been sharing your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II following her death aged 96

  • You've told us what she meant to you, moments you remember from her life and your stories of meeting the UK's longest-reigning monarch

  • On Monday, the nation paid a final farewell to the Queen, with a state funeral and military procession

  • Our tributes page has been a reminder that hundreds of thousands of us felt a personal connection with the Queen, says BBC Media and Arts Correspondent David Sillito

  • "She made you feel as if you were important at that moment in her life," says Simone Kennett, who was head teacher of a school when it was visited by the Queen

  • We'll be preserving this page so people in the UK and around the world can continue to read the tributes so many of you have left for the Queen

Live Reporting

  1. WATCH: 'We'll never see a Queen again in our lifetime'

    Queen Elizabeth II: The atmosphere outside Buckingham Palace

  2. 'A sad day for the world'

    I remember meeting her, being surprised by her piercing blue eyes and the way she stared right at you when you talked to her, as if there was no-one else in the room of interest or of any matter at all. She focused on you, she listened to you, and when it was time to move on, turned her heel and went and spoke to someone else and created the same amazing atmosphere.

    Peaches Golding, Lord Lieutenant for Bristol

    I lost my mother earlier this year and England has lost its mother. I would say it's a sad day for the world. It's a historic day to be in Tetbury.

    Marc Vogt from South Carolina, currently visiting the Cotswolds

  3. 'When my father had dementia, he still knew the Queen'

    I don’t remember a Christmas without listening to the Queen’s message - absolutely a tradition since the day I was born. Though they would parrot the Queen - “my husband and I” - [my parents] had the highest respect for her, often saying she didn’t leave during the war. She earned every person’s respect and admiration for her courage in doing this during the terrifying dark days in England. Even when my father had dementia during his last years, he knew the Queen was doing her message on Christmas Day.

    Liz Butler-Henderson

    Liz's parents celebrate Christmas together at their home sorting out presents and hugging in the kitchenLiz Butler-Henderson

    Liz's parents celebrating Christmas together

  4. 'A sublime example of dedication to duty'

    My deepest condolences to all the British people for the passing of Her Majesty the Queen - a sublime example of dedication to duty and one of the foundations of world history for two centuries.

    Alessandro Pagliai from Italy

  5. ‘She was a neighbour, not just the Queen’

    Ken Banks
    BBC Scotland North East and Northern Isles reporter

    Flowers at Ballater

    Earlier today, the Queen's hearse travelled through the village of Ballater not far from Balmoral. Locals there have spoken of their deep sadness at the death of someone described as being not just the Queen, but a neighbour.

    The Royals have strong links with the local community going back decades.

    Brian Scott

    Brian Scott said the Queen was a member of the Ballater community

    Brian Scott - a butcher at HM Sheridan in the village, which supplies Balmoral Castle - met the Queen after bad flooding in the area in 2015.

    “She was very open, very willing to speak, asking questions, taking an interest," he said.

    “She was a star, she liked a good laugh, she was a really nice person.

    “She was a member of the community, more than just the Queen. She was a local to the village.

    "Everybody in the village loved her. She will definitely be missed.”

  6. The Queen and the muddy toddler

    A little girl aged three with blonde curls smiles as she leaves her trampolineLynne Anderson

    Lynne's daughter had an amusing chance encounter with the Queen as a toddler in Windsor

    When my daughter was three years old, she slipped in mud while walking in the Deer Park in Windsor Great Park. I had to then head home down the Long Walk with a miserable and muddy toddler. A car approached, unusual in the Deer Park, so we stepped aside. The old lady driving it smiled at my daughter, my daughter duly scowled back. The old lady laughed, waved at me, and drove on. It was only when a man passing by commented on how rare it was to see the Queen alone did we realise. My daughter is 14 now and still mortified by this event!

    Lynne Anderson from Windsor

  7. 'A very memorable occasion'

    Jackie Downey presents flowers to the Queen at Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in 2003Jackie Downey

    Jackie Downey presents flowers to the Queen at Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in 2003

    Back in 2003, I was asked to represent the Crown Estate by presenting a bouquet of flowers to Her Majesty at the unveiling of the statue of the Queen on horseback for the Golden Jubilee. All the staff from our London office were bussed down to Windsor Great Park for the unveiling. At the time I was the longest serving woman at the Crown Estate, so that was how they picked me to present the bouquet.

    She'd been well briefed and knew who I was and we spoke for a few minutes. It was a very memorable occasion for me.

    Jackie Downey, retired Crown Estate employee from south-east London

  8. 'I drew her to make myself feel happier'

    A drawing of the Queen by ten-year-old Ruby Barry from West YorkshireRuby Barry

    A drawing of the Queen by 10-year-old Ruby Barry from West Yorkshire

    I felt really sad and it just hit me that the Queen was gone and I just thought she was very special to me. I drew her to make myself feel happier because drawing makes me feel happier, and I wanted to draw her because she makes me happy.

    Ruby Barry, aged 10, from Menston in West Yorkshire

  9. 'A guiding light to us all'

    I was two years old when the Queen came to the throne. I grew up a long way from London, and the Queen was a fairytale as was London to me as a child. The Queen has been a constant - her unique qualities of engagement, empathy, integrity and trustworthiness were her hallmark for me. She has been a guiding light for the country, willing to go to extraordinary measures to reassure the country during difficult times, like during the pandemic. She was a guiding light to us all. I will miss her smiling face.

    Jennifer from Cumbria

  10. 'Deep in my heart, I felt like one of her subjects'

    I'm an English teacher in Montpellier in the south of France. I have always been passionate about the language of Shakespeare, which I had the pleasure to discover at the age of 10. Since then, I have always been fascinated by British culture, the Royal Family and especially Queen Elizabeth II. Over the years, it is as if, deep in my heart, I had become one of her subjects. I knew this day would come, but I was not ready for it. For me, as for many, she was immortal.

    A letter from Balmoral Castle to Delphine Tabaries-PoncetDelphine Tabaries-Poncet

    A letter from Balmoral Castle to Delphine Tabaries-Poncet, English teacher

    I am deeply sad and, in my heart, she will always be THE Queen. I had the privilege to see her three times and to attend her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. I will never forget my emotion when we received a letter from her lady-in-waiting to congratulate us on the birth of our twins. My daughter Elizabeth is proud to have the same name as the greatest Queen of all time. The Queen is dead, long live the King.

  11. 'The epitome of selfless devotion'

    The passing away of Queen Elizabeth II is a gross loss for the UK and the realms of Commonwealth. She is an indisputable epitome of a leader's selfless devotion to the people. She remained the same in different times with different prime ministers from what I read! May her soul rest in peace.

    Tize Philippe, Far North, Cameroon

  12. A marmalade sandwich 'for later'

    Lolet Richards photographed a marmalade sandwich left outside Buckingham Palace.Lolet Richards

    The most poignant message at the palace. A marmalade sandwich 'for later'.

    Lolet Richards at Buckingham Palace

  13. 'I served her a bread roll and curtsied'

    Abbie and her mother Maria Willis, signing a book of condolence at Cardiff City Hall, with a queue of people behind

    You don't know what words to say, to a woman of that status. I will say thank you, that's the most you can say. She's irreplaceable. I worked in Principality Stadium years ago, and served her a bread roll. We curtsied and she nodded as a thank you.

    Abbie Willis, signing a book of condolence at Cardiff City Hall with her mother Maria

  14. 'The memories will live forever'

    Rachel Smith was working as a cleaner at Taunton Police Station when the Queen was driven through the town on her way to Yeovil in Somerset.

    I remember feeling upset that me and my work colleagues would miss the Queen's visit. However, the chief inspector made an announcement we could all leave the police station to see it.

    The moment she arrived was surreal. She was dressed in a light green suit and hat with flowers on and looked completely beautiful. She had that amazing ability to make you feel she had directly seen you and was waving to you alone. The moment lasted a few seconds but the memories will live forever.

  15. 'She was a credit to our generation'

    Radio 5 Live listeners have been getting in touch throughout this weekend to pay their tributes to the Queen.

    Lillian in Portsmouth says she "always expected I would go first" because she's two months older than the Queen.

    "We grew up together as it were," she says, "she was a credit to our generation."

    Speaking about her memories of the Queen, Lillian says she was at Hyde Park during the coronation and "snuck up next to a policeman" to get a view of the procession.

    "It was a day to remember, seeing the Queen with her crown, she looked so beautiful."

    Lella in Harrogate says she thanks the Queen for her "tireless championing" of the younger generations.

    "She's a figure for us all to look up to as a symbol of duty, commitment to others and continuity," the 18-year-old says.

    MarkMark

    Mark in Swansea met the Queen in 1977 when she opened a leisure centre in the city.

    He was 13 at the time and remembers Her Majesty asking him how old he was and being surprised by the answer because he was "short for my age".

    "She was lovely," he says, "talked to all of us... she was always smiling, a permanent grin throughout the whole visit."

  16. 'I never thought I'd be in a position to meet the Queen'

    Nathan's invitation to Buckingham PalaceNathan

    Nathan in Dubai met the Queen in 2011 when he was invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of the work he does with young people and the community.

    Speaking to Radio 5 Live, he said the day was a "highlight" of his life.

    "I never thought I'd be in a position to meet the Queen or any member of royalty, so being in her presence was a great feeling, and still is," he says.

    "Because of the work I did, it got me to that position and it's inspired me to continue doing the work I do and help others realise their potential, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity I was given."

    NathanNathan

  17. Royal tribute best viewed from on high

    A tribute to the Queen in Northamptonshire as seen from the skyHarry Patten

    A tribute to the Queen in Northamptonshire as seen from the sky

    I’m a pilot out of Oxford airport and spotted this amazing shape cut into a field near Weston in Northamptonshire. It was a great tribute.

    Harry Patten from Oxford

  18. Young bell ringers honour the Queen

    Jayden pulls on a bell as he honours the Queen

    Jayden pulls on a bell as he honours the Queen

    There won't be another queen at least for another three generations. The next three heirs to the throne are all kings so it won't really happen again for quite a long time. In all the big churches they'll all be ringing like lots of bells and it's good for the village to hear just at least one bell.

    Jayden, 12, from Roos, East Yorkshire

    Abi stands in her school uniform next to the bells in the church

    Abi, in her school uniform, alongside the bells in the church

    We've both come out of school to help honour and [pay our] respects. At this church we're not going to be putting [sound] mufflers on the bell clappers. We will be doing that after today up until her funeral. The mufflers silence the bells slightly so you can still hear it, but it's a duller noise. But today as [a mark of] our respects, we will not be putting those on.

    Abi, who attends Withernsea High School

  19. A 'thrilling' meeting in Ghana

    Monica Simpson meeting the Queen in GhanaMonica Simpson

    Monica Simpson meeting the Queen in Ghana

    I had the honour of exchanging pleasantries with Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Accra on 8 November 1999.

    The Queen visited La Wireless Junior Secondary School as part of her tour where I supervised and mounted an exhibition as the life skills teacher to showcase handmade crafts made by students under my supervision.

    I was so elated to be part of such a memorable event. I was all smiles and cheerful during the whole event and was so thrilled to be standing next to the Queen.

    Monica Simpson

  20. 'She made us feel at ease'

    David Williams (left), now a 34-year-old anaesthetist from Cheshire, meeting the Queen as a youngsterDavid Williams

    The Queen came to visit David Williams's school - King's, in Macclesfield - when he was 13.

    They had a chat about his rugby tours to South Africa and British Columbia.

    I was 13 when the Queen came to visit my school. In this picture, I'm on the left and my best mate is standing next to me. My mate and I were so proud that we were chosen to represent our school. And our families were also very proud. King's School in Macclesfield, where we studied, was celebrating its 500-year anniversary, and the Queen came to visit as part of the celebrations. My mate and I went on tour to Canada, to British Columbia to play rugby. We also travelled to South Africa with the team. The Queen was very interested in the details of our tour.

    I've shown my son this picture, and I explained that the Queen is no longer with us. She made two very nervous 13-year-olds feel at ease talking about our recent rugby tour to Canada. An incredible lady, may she rest in peace.

    Dr David Williams, 34, an anaesthetist from Cheshire